Molly Burch’s new single “Unconditional” parties through the pain

Since her 2017 debut album Please Be Mine, Austin-based Molly Burch has been known as a standout vocalist with the talent of selling smoky alternative ballads as well as dance-pop smashes (see “I Adore You” and “Emotion” as examples). For her new single “Unconditional” – released on August 8th – Burch opts for the latter, creating an enjoyable way to get over an undeserving partner. 

The single arrives along with a music video directed by Min Soo Park, previewing Burch’s fourth studio album Daydreamer, out Sept. 29th via Captured Tracks. The visuals feature Burch and friends participating in sleepover activities such as pillow-fighting and ouija-boarding, presumably to help her forget about the relationship she describes in the lyrics. “I can be the one who consoles you / when you feel like you’re just a nobody,” Burch sings on the pre-chorus. When the chorus breaks, the song transforms from a moody synth-pop track to a groovy, glamorous anthem. “I’m gonna need a minute / maybe more than that / to mourn this fantasy I had,” says Burch. It’s hard when the partner in need of help is the one to give up, especially when the other is still willing to be with them. 

According to Burch, the meaning of her “traditional unrequited love song” goes a bit deeper than its perceived themes. “I wrote it thinking about how I feel as a working artist in today’s climate,” she stated in an Instagram post following the song’s release. “Sometimes things feel positive and sometimes you feel a lot of rejection. This is my way of expressing that through a narrative of not being seen or appreciated by a person you were romantic with.”

Both singles “Unconditional” and “Physical” off of the upcoming Daydreamer were produced by Jack Tatum of the band Wild Nothing, whom Burch collaborated with for her notable 2021 single “Emotion.” Her new album will consist of ten tracks, and is available for pre-order and pre-save through Burch’s website. “Unconditional” is out now on all streaming platforms; watch the music video below.